Biodiversity: seed diversity must be protected

"We will not support a ban on old and rare seeds in Europe. We are against any threats to Europe's biodiversity. Purchasing and trading old and rare seeds must be allowed", the EPP Group's Coordinators in the European Parliament's Agricultural Committee, Albert Deß, and the Environment Committee, Richard Seeber, said today.

The European Commission today presented its proposal for new rules on the registration of seeds, in the wake of concerns that these could lead to a ban on the use of old and rare species. The European Parliament as co-legislator, together with the EU Council of Ministers, has the final say on setting the new rules for the marketing and distribution of seeds.

Deß and Seeber promised to carefully assess the Commission proposal: "We will check the Commission proposal from top to bottom to make sure Europe's biodiversity is not under threat."

"There is no need for panic. This is just the beginning of the legislative process. Without the European Parliament's green light there will not be a revision of the rules governing seed registration in Europe. The EPP Group is putting its weight behind securing Europe's seed diversity", Deß and Seeber said.